NEWS RELEASE
CHIPPEWA COUNTY PROSECUTOR
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Following a three-day jury trial, James Allen Morris, 55, was found guilty on Wednesday, April 17 of five felony counts including Criminal Sexual Assault in the 1st Degree, three separate counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 2nd Degree, and one additional count of Assault with intent to Commit Sexual Penetration.
This case was presented to the jury by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kristin M. Giommi with the assistance of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Cassandra L. Ivonen.
The investigation was completed by Detective Jeffrey Erickson of the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office following a referral by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Over the three-day trial, jurors heard from many witnesses, including the victim who shared that when she was 5 years old, she would go over to Morris’s home to play with his children.
She testified that over the course of the summer of 2012, the defendant began sexually molesting her; showing her pornography and having her re-enact the depictions in the videos.
See Former Kincheloe man arrested for child sex assault
The victim in this case showed tremendous strength and fortitude as she sat in front of a group of strangers and described the events in detail.
She further testified that she disclosed these assaults in 2017 to a counsellor, however it went unreported to law enforcement.
It wasn’t until a second disclosure was made to a school counsellor that the investigation was started, leading to Morris’s arrest in Georgia and ultimate extradition back to Michigan to face these charges.
Morris is currently lodged in the Chippewa County Correctional Facility awaiting sentencing, which is set for June 18.
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